Eagles find a silver lining,Eagles hope McGovern can make a swift return

West Coast appear to have dodged a bullet on the injury front, with scans clearing swingman Jeremy McGovern of a serious knee injury.

Coach Adam Simpson said last night the 23-year-old was a small chance to recover in time to face battling Brisbane at the Gabba this Sunday in a much-needed morale boost.

But the club is more likely to take a conservative approach with their valuable key-position prospect, with McGovern having emerged as their most important player in the wake of season-ending knee injuries to Eric Mackenzie and Mitch Brown.

McGovern hurt his left knee while sliding on the joint as he was chasing Fremantle forward Matt Taberner during the second term of Sunday’s western derby at Domain Stadium.

The Eagles defender tried to play on, but was substituted out of the match midway through the third quarter.

Simpson said McGovern had been cleared of significant ligament damage, dousing initial fears the struggling team’s defence had been further crippled.

“He had some scans today,” Simpson told Channel 7 last night.

“They came up pretty well, so fingers crossed.

“We’ll find a way. There’s some players playing at East Perth that we’ve been trying out. If we have to make do, we will.”

Brisbane’s lack of quality tall forwards gives West Coast a chance to give McGovern an extra week to recover and instead try an untested defender.

Callum Sinclair is the most experienced of the available options, although none of his nine AFL matches has come as a permanent defender.

Fraser McInnes and Tom Barrass spent time in the back line for WAFL affiliate East Perth against Peel at Medibank Stadium on Saturday, but neither player has made their AFL debut.

Barrass impressed with 16 disposals and nine marks in his first WAFL league game.

Andrew Gaff said the blame lay with the midfield for a horror first term in which Fremantle cantered to a record 52-point derby lead at quarter time.

But the midfielder denied the club lacked star power in its on-ball division as he backed a call-up for third-year player Brant Colledge.

Colledge, 20, has averaged 35 disposals and two goals in his past three WAFL matches.

“We need guys who are playing well and are up and about,” Gaff said.

Brisbane’s midfield could be boosted by the return from injury of captain Tom Rockliff.

The on-baller spent two nights in hospital after sustaining broken ribs and a punctured lung in Brisbane’s round-one loss to Collingwood, but has been testing protective padding in a bid to return early.